MR Hocine Djoudi, Algeria's ambassador to Paris, thought there was a dark motive behind Amnesty International's report on human rights abuses in his country, writes Lara Marlowe.
"Every time we have an election, Amnesty issues a report. It's as if they wanted to interfere in our domestic politics."
The latest election is tomorrow's constitutional referendum, which is expected to consolidate power in the hands of President Liamine Zeroual.
But what about Amnesty's detailed accusations of summary executions, arbitrary killings, disappearances and torture?
"No anti-terrorist struggle is a butterfly chase. Maybe there are some excesses in the battle against terrorism. When these are brought to the attention of the authorities, measures are taken.
"Amnesty gives a political alibi to barbarous acts, to massacres of women and children. They distort the debate, by presenting terrorists as political opponents. How can you consider someone who slashes the throat of a schoolgirl a political activist?"
Mr Djoudi rejects allegations that the referendum is another step in the constitutionalisation of military rule: "People talk about military dictatorship in Algeria," he said, "but when the military takes power in a country, they suspend the constitution.
"They suspend basic rights and freedom of the press. They say, `We'll see about it in four or five years from now.' This is not what is happening in Algeria. The army's intervention saved democracy and, the pursuit of democracy.
A few years ago, the world thought it inevitable that fundamentalists would take power. Now the West has realised there is a danger of a "domino effect" if Algeria is ruled by Islamists. That danger, he said, is receding.
"What we are seeing is bouts of fever - attacks always increase before elections. Afterwards they die down. In 98 per cent of Algeria almost nothing happens. The terrorists use extreme savagery
The European Union would be making a mistake if it tried to put pressure on Algeria, Mr Djoudi said. "Algeria is not a beggar country. We react very badly to such pressures ...
"Amnesty should stop practising media terrorism. They must be less selective in their perception of human rights. Let them tell how whole buildings are blown up by car bombs, how women are assassinated. Let them denounce these murders. And stop reserving their anger for the state. We are talking about the survival of Algeria."